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**northernladuk** · 9 February 2012, 22:20

Wow, well if freelancing doesn't work you could take up writing

I'm fed up with the 8 hours and no time for life and would like to move to freelancing again.

People go on about the flexibility around being boss and I found I spend more time in the car and more time working than I did when I was perm. I have the flexibility to sack work I don't want and have as much time off as I need but thats about it. The market is hard and you can't be picky so I don't get too hung up on working less/when you want freelancing.

I handed in my notice last week because I was asked by a couple of recruiters if I could do a short notice 1-2 month contract. They would have paid really well. I had to turn them down because of my 30 days notice. As you obviously know by freelancing I could get 3-4x more than by perm.

First rule. You have nothing until the ink has dried on the paper and you are working. We have many stories of people being binned even up to standing in reception on the first day. The promise of anything from an agent is not enough to move on let alone 1 to 2 monthers. Yes 30 days notice is going to be a stopper. It will be very difficult to dovetail your notice with a gig, particularly looking at your experience

Most recruiters told me that my experience is not enough but I know they just don't understand UX. The only measurable thing for recruiters is years of experience. So I know where they are coming from. They also said that I could improve my career at a top agency better than with freelancing because when I freelance they will just handle me as a supplier. I mean my current employer handles me as a supplier too so I'm not sure about this.

You do need to prove your are better than the rest freelancing/contracting. People don't pay that kind of money for someone that has 6 months, they want a specialist that has done this before and can hit the ground running. The difference between your employeer handling you and someone that has paid cold hard cash and wants results is very different!

Now, the top agency would certainly look nice in my CV but I just really don't feel to waste my time in an 8h employment. And yes, I don't have big brand names in my portfolio and did not make usability testing but I came up with a couple of innovative ideas and a couple of top UX magazines want me to write about these. This could potentially give me good exposure and maybe freelance work.

The key word here is potential and maybe. So far you have nothing. A top agency would look terrific on your CV as would their conctacts that you can squirrel away for the time you leave. You would be exposed to the top clients which you can build up a relationship with and take with you. As it is you are hoping people might read about you, might like what they see and might call you. All this time you have no work.

Should I just go for the interview and see what they say and try to get a sense for the agency culture? Or should I cancel them as I'm sure I would get freelance work. The market is really good and they hardly fill up the UX vacancies. However, my past failures still hount me and do not want to be without cash. .

I can't see you have a choice here. I don't see the experience to lead the market and get the quality leads. But I do see an opportunity to work with the best which will speak volumes when you are trying to convince people to part with their lolly.

As ever in these what should I do things that is my opinion based on what you say.

**JoJoGabor** · 10 February 2012, 09:49

Also dont believe a word recruiters say. Their job is to get you to accept their contract with as much margin for themselves as possible.

**Scrag Meister** · 10 February 2012, 10:22

Originally posted by JoJoGabor View Post

Also dont believe a word recruiters say. Their job is to get you to accept their contract with as much margin for themselves as possible.

Not always, I always ensure they are on the clientco PSL and on a fixed %age margin which links their margin to your rate. So they have a little motivation to get you the best rate they can rather than trying to rip you off.

**kingcook** · 10 February 2012, 11:03

Originally posted by Scrag Meister View Post

Not always, I always ensure they are on the clientco PSL and on a fixed %age margin which links their margin to your rate. So they have a little motivation to get you the best rate they can rather than trying to rip you off.

I asked agent of current gig if they were on fixed % margin. He said YES. It wasn't til i started the gig that i found out he'd been lying

**SteelyDan** · 10 February 2012, 12:26

Originally posted by kingcook View Post

I asked agent of current gig if they were on fixed % margin. He said YES. It wasn't until i started the gig that i found out he'd been lying

FTFY

Lying? Agents? Well bring me the smelling salts; I'm in shock!

**SueEllen** · 10 February 2012, 13:25

Originally posted by kingcook View Post

I asked agent of current gig if they were on fixed % margin. He said YES. It wasn't til i started the gig that i found out he'd been lying

You don't ask the agent you ask the client.

**Gulliver** · 21 December 2012, 15:07

Thanks for all your replies. I forgot to tick the checkbox to subscribe to the email alerts so I thought no one replied to my thread. In the meantime I started contracting and I have much more time than before while being a perm. So this was the right decision. Thanks folks!

**Scrag Meister** · 21 December 2012, 15:18

Well done.

Hope it all works out for you.

**nomadd** · 21 December 2012, 17:05

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

Wow, well if freelancing doesn't work you could take up writing

Half a dinari for me bloody life story?

Mind you, I think your reply was even longer...

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